It’s been said before that ”the simplest solution is often the best one.” I couldn’t agree more. Among my favourite simple solutions is Our Uncomplicated Family Command Centre. It has just enough functionality to track our basic schedules and to-do’s without adding more stress to our already busy lives.
If you need to get more organized, but without the fuss of complicated systems, you’ve come to the right place!
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What is a Family Command Centre & Why It’s Useful
The term “family command centre” has always sounded a bit intimidating to me. Makes me feel like I should be creating strategic objectives and prepping for drills and tactical operations to carry out high-stakes missions!
Its formidable name notwithstanding, a ‘command centre’ is incredibly valuable to have at home.
So what exactly is it?
A FAMILY COMMAND CENTRE is a centralized system of tracking the family’s schedule and day-to-day activities. It can be as simple or comprehensive as you need it to be.
Common Features May Include:
• Calendar: To track appointments, school events, and family activities.
• To-Do Lists: To manage household chores, grocery lists, meal planner, and other tasks.
• Important Information: Emergency contacts and medical information.
• Reminders or Notes: Sticky notes or small slips of paper with important messages.
• Mail or Paper Organization: A place to coral bills, garbage collection schedules, business cards, and invitations.
Having a CENTRALIZED SPOT for all (or most) of these items can go a LONG WAY in keeping you organized. Not to mention reducing some of the stress that comes with trying to remember everything.
Locations Can Include:
• Kitchen: on the counter or side of the fridge.
• Entry: in a mudroom or front entryway.
• Hidden (but accessible): On the inside of a door, in a drawer, or in a closet.
• Passageway: On a slim wall or in a hallway.
• Office: In a den, on a desk.
You may, in fact, already have a system of some sort. Perhaps you want to make yours function better, simplify it, or add more to it. Or maybe you just need some easy ideas to set one up for the first time.
Wherever you are on the ‘command centre continuum,’ let me show you our basic family command centre in the hopes of giving you clarity on how to create one that’s right for you.
Our Uncomplicated Family Command Centre
This is our very basic ‘family command centre.’
It is centrally located in our kitchen along the side of our fridge – it’s in a visible, accessible spot, and easy to see at-a-glance.
Our family command centre has 3 basic features.
FEATURE #1: Monthly Calendar (Our Schedule ‘At-A-Glance’)
There are so many large scale monthly calendars out there (including magnetic calendars, (non-magnetic) wall calendars, and dry-erase calendars, to name a few). Here is why I like the calendar we are currently using:
• Size: This month-to-month calendar measures 15″ X 12″ – a good size that fits the side of our fridge.
• Space to Write: The space provided for each day is large enough to write several items on a single day.
• Design: Minimal design aesthetic so it’s not visually distracting.
• Magnetic: It adheres easily and is removable, making it easy to sit down at a table and do long-term planning.
The one down-side to this specific calendar is that the paper is not as thick as the magnetic calendar we’ve used in the past. But that’s just a personal preference. Overall, it works very well for us.
FEATURE #2: File Pockets (Our ‘Catch-All’ for Notebooks & Important Papers)
I LOVE these file pockets.
We can place anything in them that is important to us. It’s simply a great way to coral miscellaneous papers that might otherwise get misplaced.
By having them centrally located, it’s an easy drop zone for papers like our garbage collection schedule, weekly task lists, a simple notepad and other miscellaneous information. Knowing that there is one central ‘catch-all’ for our papers makes finding them hassle-free (especially for someone like me who easily loses track of papers, if I’m not careful).
There are a lot of different types of file systems available (including magnetic files, non-magnetic wall files, and countertop file sorters).
This is why I these file pockets work for us:
• Strong Magnetic Adhesion: It holds a lot more weight than meets they eye. I just keep adding things – including this heavy ‘My Week’ notebook featured in our Top 20 Amazon Home Finds – and it continues to remain affixed to the fridge!
• Wide & deep pockets: Wide & deep enough to store pens, notebooks, schedules, invitations, and other papers.
• Thick & Sturdy Material: The plastic pockets are thick and sturdy, standing up to wear and tear. We’ve had ours for a couple of years and they still appear brand new.
• Wipeable – easy to clean.
The one downside to having a ‘catch-all’ like this is that it will catch so much that it can clutter up rather quickly! I recommend you get into the habit of editing as you go – whether it’s end of day, end of the week, or end of month.
FEATURE #3: Fridge Magnets & Clips (For ‘Top-of-Mind’ Information & Keepsakes)
We use fridge magnets and clips to highlight items that require immediate action or things to keep in mind in the days or weeks ahead.
Of course, like many of you, we also use fridge magnets and clips to display invites, photos, and handmade keepsakes from the littles in our life 🙂
The circular magnets came as part of this dry-erase board package, but the clips were purchased locally. Of course, there are all sorts of magnetic clips that you can find online to suit your needs.
Final Thoughts
Whether you decide to use a comprehensive or uncomplicated family command centre, having one can significantly enhance your home’s organization. By centralizing schedules, tasks, and important information, it can keep everyone on track (more or less ) and help reduce unnecessary stress. The beauty of having one is how versatile it can be – how minimal or detailed it is, is entirely up to you. So, why not take the first step toward getting more organized this year?
Happy organizing,
Additional Organization Tips & Resources:
Junk Drawer Organization & Decluttering Tips
Organizing a Small Linen Closet: Tips & Resources
17 Simple Ways to Reduce Visual Clutter
13 Easy Home Improvement Projects (You Can Do This Weekend)
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